By Consultant Chest Physician Dr. G. S. Kailash
Rains certainly bring cheers to all of us bringing down the temperatures which are invariably hot all through the year in this part of our country. They also increase the water table thus supplying us enough during the hot summer. Rain also brings a lot of respiratory infection thus disturbing our routine and keeping doctors busy during winter.
Also read: All about common cold
What happens when you get wet:
Getting wet during rains triggers an allergy which leads to usual irritation and cold which when ignored can trickle down to the lungs to cause a cough and sputum. Bacterias and viruses thrive in such condition worsening the situation. Further chest colds can trigger a wheezing attack in susceptive individuals leading to asthma.
Infection is one of the primary causes of asthma, particularly in children. Yellow coloured sputum is suggestive of severe infection and needs immediate attention.
Primarily try not to get wet in rains as far as possible particularly children. Keeping an umbrella with you during monsoon is always advisable. Treat the upper respiratory infection cold as early as possible to prevent the infection tracking down to the lung to cause pneumonia.
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Here’s what you can do to stay safe:
Drink plenty of hot fluids during winter and be properly clothed to avoid exposing your chest to cold winds.
People with wheeze should use their inhalers frequently during winter to prevent an an impending asthma attack.
Beware of other infections during raining days like dengue Chicken gunya, malaria etc which are spread by mosquitoes.
Avoid water collection around your house at any cost.
Also read: How you can stay healthy during cyclone